What You Should Know About Collecting a Challenge Coin From the Military

There is a lot of debate over when the first military challenge coins were issued. Some people say that challenge coins date back to World War I, while others say that they first came into existence during the Vietnam War.

But no matter who you believe, it’s clear that challenge coins are here to stay. Every challenge coin military members receive is revered and cherished for many years to come.

So, what are challenge coins, and why do they hold so much value to so many military members? And furthermore, why has collecting challenge coins become a thing among non-military members lately?

We’re going to set out to answer all of these questions (and more!) today. Here is what you need to know about military challenge coins.

What Are Challenge Coins?

First things first: What are challenge coins?

Challenge coins are essentially small medallions that are typically given out to military members who have served their country. Each individual branch of the military has its own challenge coins that can be handed out to military members from that branch.

That being said, there are also challenge coins that make things a little bit more specific by helping to shine a light on those military members who have taken part in certain wars, peace efforts, etc. They’re often customized to represent this.

A battalion coin is a good example of this. And what is a battalion coin? Well, it’s a type of challenge coin created for a particular battalion that is designed to bring them closer together. It’s supposed to make battalion members feel like they’re all on the same page.

What Makes Challenge Coins So Special?

Military challenge coins are special because not just anyone can get their hands on them. To secure these kinds of challenge coins, you will need to be a military member, and, more often than not, you will need to do something to earn one.

There is a story behind just about every challenge coin military members receive. These stories are a big part of the mystique of challenge coins. Those who are able to get one are usually more than happy to break down the story behind it, especially with fellow military members.

How Does a Person Earn a Challenge Coin?

There isn’t any one specific thing that a military member will need to do to get a challenge coin. This is another thing that makes challenge coins special in the grand scheme of things.

In some instances, all a military member will need to do to get a challenge coin is be a part of a certain battalion. In other cases, a military member will need to do something heroic on the battlefield to get one.

Challenge coins aren’t always given out by the military in an official capacity. So there aren’t any hard and fast rules for when they will be handed over to military members. It’s up to individual military leaders to decide when they want to use challenge coins.

How Much Are Challenge Coins Worth?

Military challenge coins are very valuable. But that doesn’t always mean that they’re worth a lot of money.

Confused? Well, we say that because, while challenge coins often have a lot of sentimental value to those who’ve been given them, they aren’t always worth a lot monetarily.

With that in mind, there are sure to be some challenge coins that belonged to noteworthy military members that will be worth money in the years to come. But as of right now, people don’t really collect challenge coins to turn a profit.

Are Military Members the Only People Who Collect Challenge Coins?

For a long time, military members were the only people who collected challenge coins. They took great pride in these coins and loved looking at them to remember their service.

But it’s worth noting that military members aren’t the only ones collecting challenge coins these days. There are lots of other people who have started doing it as well.

For example, there are challenge coins that are collected by police officers, firefighters, and other first responders. There are also certain organizations that will create custom challenge coins to give out to their members.

At this point, pretty much anyone can have a challenge coin made. If you are the leader of a group and think other members of your group might appreciate challenge coins, you should look into having some made.

Where Can You Obtain Challenge Coins?

Some people are under the impression that they have to go through the military to obtain challenge coins. But in reality, there are quite a few companies out there that specialize in making both military challenge coins and other types of challenge coins.

If you’re in the market for challenge coins, you should do your homework on these companies. They should be able to help you design the challenge coins that you would like to give out.

Learn More About Each Challenge Coin Military Members Can Receive

If you’re interested in finding out more about each challenge coin military members receive, you should be able to obtain plenty of information online. You can also contact companies that make challenge coins to get the inside scoop on them.

By reading up on challenge coins, you’ll get a new appreciation for them. You’ll also see what kind of challenge coins you can invest in for your organization.

Get more insight into what challenge coins are by browsing through more of our blog articles.